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Response 3893301

Response to request for information

Reference

3893301

Response date

6 February 2026

Request

  1. What is the established staffing level of the planning department at full capacity (FTE)?
  2. What is the headcount in each of the following seniority categories at full capacity? 
    1. Head of Service / Director
    2. Team Leader / Principal Planner
    3. Senior Planner
    4. Planning Officer
    5. Graduate / Assistant Planner
    6. Technical / Administrative staff
  3.  What was the average staff headcount (FTE) of the planning department during the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025? 
  4. As at 31 March 2025, how many planning department staff were in each of the following seniority categories (headcount):
    1. Head of Service / Director
    2. Team Leader / Principal Planner
    3. Senior Planner
    4. Planning Officer
    5. Graduate / Assistant Planner
    6. Technical / Administrative staff
  5. As at 31 March 2025, how many staff were:
    1. Directly employed
    2. Agency workers
  6. During the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, what was the average length of engagement of agency workers (weeks)?
  7. What was the total expenditure (£) on agency planning staff between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025?
  8. What was the average planning department headcount (FTE) in the following financial years:
    1. 2017/18
    2. 2019/20
    3. 2021/22
  9. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, how many planning department staff:
    1. Left the department
    2. Were recruited into the department
  10. Of those recruited during this period, how many were appointed:
    1. To permanent roles
    2. To fixed-term contract roles
  11. As at 31 March 2025, how many vacant planning department posts existed in each of the following seniority categories (headcount):
    1. Head of Service / Director
    2. Team Leader / Principal Planner
    3. Senior Planner
    4. Planning Officer
    5. Graduate / Assistant Planner
    6. Technical / Administrative staff

Response

  1. What is the established staffing level of the planning department at full capacity (FTE)? - 29.4
  2. What is the headcount in each of the following seniority categories at full capacity? 
    1. Head of Service / Director - 1
    2. Team Leader / Principal Planner - 7
    3. Senior Planner - 4
    4. Planning Officer - 11.4
    5. Graduate / Assistant Planner - 4
    6. Technical / Administrative staff - 2
  3.  What was the average staff headcount (FTE) of the planning department during the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025?
    • Answer - 28
  4. As at 31 March 2025, how many planning department staff were in each of the following seniority categories (headcount):
    1. Head of Service / Director - 1
    2. Team Leader / Principal Planner - 7
    3. Senior Planner - 4
    4. Planning Officer - 11.4
    5. Graduate / Assistant Planner - 4
    6. Technical / Administrative staff - 1
  5. As at 31 March 2025, how many staff were:
    1. Directly employed - 28.4
    2. Agency workers - 0
  6. During the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, what was the average length of engagement of agency workers (weeks)?
    • Not applicable
  7. What was the total expenditure (£) on agency planning staff between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025?
    • Zero
  8. What was the average planning department headcount (FTE) in the following financial years:
    1. 2017/18 - 21.16
    2. 2019/20 - 24.18
    3. 2021/22 - 24.6
  9. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, how many planning department staff:
    1. Left the department - 3
    2. Were recruited into the department - 2
  10. Of those recruited during this period, how many were appointed:
    1. To permanent roles - 2
    2. To fixed-term contract roles - 0
  11. As at 31 March 2025, how many vacant planning department posts existed in each of the following seniority categories (headcount):
    1. Head of Service / Director - 0
    2. Team Leader / Principal Planner - 0
    3. Senior Planner - 0
    4. Planning Officer - 0
    5. Graduate / Assistant Planner - 0
    6. Technical / Administrative staff - 1

FOI Responses Planning - 2026